Apparatus for separating garbage



Jan. 5, 1943. F. v. MOORE APPARATUS FOR SEPARAT ING GARBAGE Filed Dec. 19, 19:58

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 flerzfor; redaflaare Jan. 5, 1943. F. v. MOORE 2,307,059

APPARATUS SEPARATING GARBAGE Filed Dec. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. Z

Jan. 5, 1943-.

F. v. MOORE APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GARBAGE Filed De. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet .5 I

n uwuansnu'nnn Patented Jan. 5, 1943 ETED STATES "FFIQE Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for separating garbage, and more particularly to an automatic and continuous device whereby substantially all of the elements of value in garbage may be classified and separately obtained.

One feature of this invention is that garbage may be obtained in a form useful and valuable for the feeding of animals, particularly hogs. Another feature is the removal of substances which would be harmful to animals being fed. Still another feature is that the grease, a valuable feeding constituent of the garbage, is retained therein. Yet another feature is the production of a simple and economical automatic continuous device for carrying out the separation. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the accompanying specification and drawings illustr-ating a specific embodiment of my invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of apparatus embodying my invention, the section being taken as indicated at line I of Fig. '7; Fig. 2, a top plan View of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detail sectional View taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1, the upper portion of the endless chain and spring fins being shown cut away; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. '7 a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line I of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8, a transverse sectional view, the section'being taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 1.

The value of garbage in the feeding of animals, particularly hogs, has long been known. However, its use has been limited by the fact that it has been extremely difficult to obtain the material at a reasonable price and free from substances which would be harmful to the animals. For instance, garbage often contains harmful and poisonous chemicals. These are ordinarily removed by washing the garbage. However, the grease, a valuable feeding constituent of the garbage, is also removed by the same process as heretofore carried out. Most garbage also contains sharp objects such as knives, razor blades, and the like. Separation of these articles has heretofore been so expensive as to make the cost of the garbage prohibitive.

The problem, therefore, which has confronted.

the art is the development of a simple, efiicient and economical means of classifying and separating the garbage. In orderto carry out. this result in an economical manner, it is necessary to classify and remove practically all of the materials of any value. Moreover, in order for any process to be successful, it is essential that it be a continuous operation, preferably carried outautomatically with all of the essential parts of the machine cooperating to produce a single unitary result. Such a result may be produced by means of my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention disclosed herein, a suitable frame it supports a casing H, which may partially or wholly enclose the apparatus. A hopper 12 mounted on a frame or continuous with the casing receives the garbage which is to be classified and separated. A screw conveyor l4 carried by the frame I!) is closely fitted within the hopper. The blades it of said conveyor closely approach the sides of the hopper 12. The width of these blades or the distance between the conveyor shaft and the hopper I2 determines the maximum size of articles which may be received and handled by the apparatus. A suitable blade width for ordinary purposes has been found to be approximately 5 inches. The blades l5 may also be spaced approximately 14 inches from each other.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the rotation of the screw conveyor carries all articles larger in size than the predetermined 5 inch diameter out of the hopper l2, placing them upon the shelf l3.

The hopper i2 contracts at its lower end to the neck l6, which is approximately 5 inches in width. Adjacent the neck l6 of the hopper la a slotted baffle I! is secured to the casing H. A shaft l8 carrying thereon pins 19 is rotatably mounted in the frame E0. The pins l8 are preferably approximately 3 inches in length, and are adapted to pass through the slots in the baffle H. A hinge plate 20 is attached to the neck l5 of the hopper l2 opposite the baffle IT. This plate will normally be approximately 2 inches in length and will be yieldably held in vertical position by a small spring 25. This portion of the apparatus is enclosed in a housing 22 having a removable cover 23 permitting access to the shaft Hi.

The distance between the shaft 58 and the neck l6 of the hopper I2 is again approximately the predetermined distance, 5 inches. The movement of the pins [9 serves to break and tear paper containers which may be introduced into the apparatus. The plateZil yieldably holds the containers in position for the operation. and the bafile ll removes any material which may become fixed upon the pins it.

An electromagnetic drum 24 may be rotatably mounted upon the frame Hi. This drum is of the type in which the surface. as it passes into a given portion of the cycle of rotation, is magnetized by a current of electricity. and metallic objects are attracted to this surface. As the surface continues its rotation and passes into the balance of the cycle, it is de-magnetized and the objects are released. Drums of this type are well known in the art, and may be of any suitable construction.

The upper surface of the drum 24 is magnetized and attracts metallic materials passing off the shaft l8 and pins l9. These materials are carried around until they reach the lower surfaces 26, where they are released and fall upon the conveyor belt 2?, which removes them from the apparatus.

As shown in Fig. 3, the screw conveyor I4, the shaft 18, and the drum as may have attached thereto gears 28, 29 and 30, respectively, said gears being connected by a chain 3! driven by any suitable power means. On the other hand, any suitable means may be used for the rotation of these shafts.

After the metallic materials are removed, the balance of the garbage falls upon the endless chain 32 or other skeleton conveyor carried by the sprockets 33 and 34 on the shafts 35 and 36, respectively. Secured to the chain 32 and ex" tending on either side therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane are spaced resilient fins 31. These fins consist of thin strips, preferably of spring steel or other similar material, and should be mounted with the width of the strip extending in a vertical plane. Each fin should be of a length of approximately one-half of the width of the apparatus, in order that the skeleton formed by the fins may cover substantially all of the surface of the apparatus. The space between the fins may be the standard distance referred to in connection with the neck I6 of the hopper l2 and shaft l8 or slightly smaller.

The chain 32 and the fins 3'! serve to convey the material received from the drum 24. Tom paper containers, being of large dimensions, are carried on the surface of the fins and deposited on the conveyor belt 38, from which they may be removed, and pressed, or otherwise disposed of. Other materials, being of smaller dimensions, pass through the fin's and fall to the conveyor belt 39.

In order to prevent the fins 31 on their return to the sprocket 33 (while on the lower portion of the chain 32) from interfering with the passage of the material therethrough, they should be collapsed or otherwise removed from an obstructing position. This may be accomplished by any suitable means.

As shown in Fig. 4, partitions 40 centrally located above the conveyor belt 39 and outside partitions 4! are mounted on the frame [0, preferably extending down in close proximity to the conveyor 39. Portions 42 of the partitions 40 and M nearest of the sprocket 33 project almost to contact with the fins 31 as they pass towards the sprocket 34. Thus the fins 3! of the chain 32 are forced to pass between the projections on the two center partitions 40. The fins 31, being resilient, collapse upon striking the projecting portions 42 of the partitions 40 and are thus removed as obstructions. When the fins in approaching the sprocket 33 reach the ends of the partitions 40 they are released and spring back to their normal position as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, guards 43 and 44 may be mounted under the upper portion of the chain 32 to prevent material passing through upon the fins 3'1 when they are not collapsed.

The conveyor belt 39 passing at opposite ends around the drums 45 and 46 is carried thereby, its upper surface moving in the direction indicated towards the drum 46. Garbage falling on the belt 39 between the partitions 40 and 4! travels along the belt to the magnets 4'1. As shown par ticularly in Fig. 5, the magnets 41 may be brought into contact with the garbage on the belt 39 between the partitions 40 and ll. Metal materials not previously removed by the magnetic drum are attracted to the magnets 4'! and raised thereby. As the magnets 41 are raised, the deflector 48 is also raised to the position indicated in outline. Material held by the magnets may be released by contact with the plate 48 or, if the magnets are actuated electrically, they may be de-magnetized when they reach the upper position. Ma-

5. terial released from the magnets 4'! falls upon the deflector 43 and passes to the conveyor belt 49.

A series of clasping spring fingers 53 above another portion of the conveyor belt 39 may be raised and lowered together with the magnets 47. These fingers are composed of spring steel, and may be suitably designed to grasp any object of standard size and shape present in garbage in suificientquantity to justify its separate removal.

As shown particularly in Fig. 6, the fingers 59 are adapted to grasp and remove round bottles. Upon lowering the fingers into contact with the belt 39 the bottles are grasped. As the fingers are raised, the deflector 5| is also raised, and the bottles being released by the lugs 52 fall upon the deflector 5| and pass to the conveyor belt 53.

least one, and preferably two sets of prongs 5t and may be raised and lowered in the same manner as the fingers 53 and the magnets 41. The prongs 54 and 55, when lowered to the belt 39, pierce soft materials of any substantial size. The deflectors 55 and 51 are raised with the prongs. Thus garbage which is released by contact blades 58 falls to the deflectors 55 and 5'! and then to the conveyor belt 59.

The magnets ll, the fingers 53, and the prongs 5 5 and 55 may be raised and lowered separately or together in any suitable manner. As shown particularly in Fig. 7, all may be mounted upon the frame 653, In such case the frame 66 has attached thereto a reciprocating arm 6| carried by the eccentric 62 mounted on the gear 63. The gear 33 in turn may be driven by the motor E l. If desired, similar sets cf driving mecha nisms, including the gears and reciprocating arms, may be placed at each corner of the frame 63 and driven by the same motor. Chains or cords 54 secured to the frame operate to raise and lower the deflectors 58, BI, 56 and 51. The conveyor belts 39, 53 and 59 may be driven by any suitable power means.

Garbage reaching the end of the conveyor belt 39 at the drum 45 will ordinarily consist chiefly of small particles. These will be deposited upon the screw conveyor 65 mounted in the frame #6 closely adjacent the belt 33. Preferably only approximately 1 inch clearance is allowed between the conveyor 65 and the conveyor belt 39, Ma-

- terials too large to pass through this space are carried by the screw conveyor to the sorting table 66.

Garbage smaller than the clearance space falls into the tank El containing water to the level 68. .As shown particularly in 8, the water is agitated by a small propeller 539. A screen it havdownwardly sloping sides and having its highest point approximately at its center is mounted within the tank slightly below the level of the water. An endless conveyor 1| carrying perforated buckets 52 reaches to the lower portion of the tank, and is adapted to remove therefrom materials of greater density than water. The conveyor H empties into the barrel 13 which is rotatably mounted on the frame M. The cylindrical walls of the barrel 13 preferably contain perforations. The barrel 13 may be loaded with shot or steel balls, or the like, and rotated to grind glass and similar materials into small particles, which pass out through the perforations.

When the water in the tank 61 is agitated by the propeller G9, materials are quickly brought to the surface against the screen H3 and are carried by the sloping sides towards the center of the screen. For convenience in classification, all materials carried to the surface of the water are called materials lighter than water, although substances of approximately the same density and even of slightly greater density than water may be brought to the surface by the agitation. An endless conveyor i5 carries these materials from the tank to the receptacle it. The buckets of the conveyor are preferably perforated to permit the grease and water to run back into the tank. If desired, the grease, floating on the water, may be carried oif separately by a suitable opening in the side of the tank $7.

In operation, materials larger than the standard predetermined size are rejected by the screw conveyor and deposited upon the shelf it. The paper containers are then broken and torn by the pins 19 on the shaft 58, The rotating magnetic drum 2t removes metal materials. The fins 3'! then carry off large pieces, of paper to the conveyor belt 38.

The magnets i! deposit metallic materials upon the conveyor belt 59, which discharges into a suitable receptacle. The fingers 50 and the prongs 55 and 55 deposit garbage upon the belts 53 and 59 which, together with the screw conveyor 65, discharge on the sorting table 66. If desired, the materials on the table may be subjected to a rapid manual sorting operation and placed in suitable containers. After the operation of the conveyors "H and 15 in the tank 6i as previously described, substantially all of the garbage is classified and separated.

Although a specific modification of my invention has been described, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Various separating elements may be attached or eliminated, depending upon the type of garbage which it is desired to classify and separate. Also, certain elements may be varied in the order of their operation without affecting the result produced.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the exact form described, as modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described for classifying and separating garbage, continuous endless conveyor means for separating from the garbage materials larger than a predetermined size, including: a frame for said apparatus; a pair of rotatable shafts journalled in said frame in substantially the same horizontal plane; an endless chain carried by said shafts; a series of spaced resilient fins mounted on said chain and extending therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane, said fins being adapted to permit materials, of a diameter less than the space between said fins, to passtherethrough; and a pair of projecting partitions mounted upon said frame adjacent the lower portion of said endless chain adapted to collapse the fins which are being returned to the beginning of the cycle of rotation.

2. In apparatus of the character described for classifying and separating garbage, a frame, a pair of rotatable shafts journalled in said frame, endless conveyor means carried by said shafts, a plurality of flexible resilient fins secured to said conveyor means and extending therefrom, said fins being spaced apart and being mounted to support materials having dimensions greater than the distance between said fins while permitting materials of lesser dimensions to pass therethrough and means mounted on said frame adjacent the lower portion of said conveyor means, said means being interposed in the path of the fins for engaging and collapsing the fins which are being returned to the beginning of the cycle of rotation.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a frame, endless conveyor means supported by said frame, a plurality of fiexible resilient fins secured to said conveyor means and extending therefrom, said fins being spaced apart and being mounted to support materials having dimensions greater than the distance between said fins while permitting materials of lesser dimensions to pass tneretl'irough, and a projecting member mounted on said frame adjacent said conveyor, said memher being interposed in the path of the fins for engaging and bending the fins which are being returned to the beginning of the cycle of rotation whereby said fins are collapsed.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a frame, horizontal shafts journalled in said frame, endless conveyor means carried by said shafts, a series of spaced resilient flexible fins secured to said conveyor means and extending therefrom, said fins being spaced a standard distance apart and being mounted to support and separate materials having dimensions greater than said standard distance while permitting materials of lesser dimensions to pass therethrough, means carried by said frame and interposed in the path of said fins for engaging and bending the fins which are being returned to the beginning of the cycle of rotation whereby said fins are collapsed.

5. In apparatus of the character described for classifying and separating garbage, a frame, a pair of horizontal shafts journalled in said frame, an endless member extending around said shafts and movable thereabout, said conveyor member being movable in one direction above the shafts and in the opposite direction below the shafts, a plurality of spaced resilient flexible fins secured to said conveyor member and extending horizontally therefrom, said fins being spaced apart and being adapted to convey materials having dimensions greater than the distance between said fins while permitting materials of lesser dimensions to pass therethrough, and a projecting member mounted on said frame and interposed in the path of said fins for engaging and bending the fins which are being returned to the beginning of the cycle of rotation whereby said fins are collapsed.

FRED V. MOORE. 

